WHITTIER – City Manager Jeff Collier is warning social-service agencies that receive city money that cuts are coming.

With the loss of redevelopment funding – thanks to a state Supreme Court decision upholding legislation – and possible cuts in federal money, the city may be forced to make cuts, Collier stated in a letter sent to the many agencies receiving help from Whittier.

“Clearly this is as serious a fiscal situation as most of us have seen in our careers,” Collier stated. “Despite the difficulties we face, the City Council and management team are committed to minimizing the anxiety and pain to our community to the greatest extent possible.”

Collier said Friday that he sent the Jan. 12 letter out to let the many agencies know that budget cuts may be in the future.

“All of these folks are partners in providing services in our community,” Collier said.

“They provide really vital services,” he said. “I feel it’s important that we share this concern with our partners.”

The biggest cuts could occur to agencies receiving redevelopment money set aside for housing.

Whittier Area First Day Coalition that houses a homeless shelter now receives $100,000, The Whole Child which took over the Rio Hondo Temporary Home program, gets $50,000 and the Women’s and Children’s Crisis Shelter receives $34,000.

The city also gets federal money but the Department of Housing and Urban Development also is projecting reductions in different sources, ranging from 25 to 53 percent.

Those funds go to the Southeast Area Social Services Funding Authority – run by local cities that provides job training and services to seniors, $40,000; the Interfaith Food Center, $16,000; and the Salvation Army’s hospitality and shower program, $8,250.

Mike Sprague started at the Whittier Daily News in April 1984. Since then, Sprague has covered every city in the Whittier Daily News circulation area, as well as political and water issues. Sprague received a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in political science, both from Cal State Fullerton.

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